FIRE service chiefs have launched an investigation after “hackers” accessed an official Twitter account to post anti-UKIP messages.

Tweets were posted from the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) account shortly after 6pm this evening (Sunday, December 14) attacking the right-wing party, before they were deleted shortly afterwards.

HWFRS chief executive Mark Yates quickly explained that the account had been hacked and apologised for the tweets. He added they would be looking into how the messages came to be posted on the official page.

James Carver, UKIP West Midlands MEP, said that a thorough investigation needed to be undertaken and appropriate action taken if necessary.

The offending posts comprised of two tweets generated directly from the @HWFireControl account and a retweet of comedian Russell Brand message in which he mocked UKIP leader Nigel Farage.

Brand’s tweet was posted on the same day he appeared on the same BBC Question Time panel as the UKIP supremo, where he brandished him a “pound shop Enoch Powell” during a heated debate.

The first tweet on @HWFireControl read: “So, one #ukip candidate gets racist when he is tired, another when he’s on painkillers. Seems legit…”

And the second one posted just a minute later said: “Warning! Painkillers may cause bigotry! #ukip #UKIPExcuses #dangeroussideeffects”

Both tweets were deleted within minutes of being posted and Mr Yates took to Twitter to apologise via his own account.

He said: “@HWFireControl account has been hacked - on the case but bear with us. Apologies for content of tweets, obviously not of our doing #hackedoff”.

Mr Yates later added: “We will be looking at how, when, who etc over the next 48 hours. Social media is never without risks, unfortunately.”

Mr Carver said: “Any reported breach of security needs to be looked into, even more so when it is the emergency services, who must always be politically impartial.

“If a breach of security is proved, then appropriate action must be taken by the service.”

He added: “It is a shame that this has happened because it is a distraction from all the great work that the service does. Hopefully they will get to the bottom of it.”